The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Gold Medal for Planning Goes To...
Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for town planning were at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, along with architecture, sculpture, painting, music and literature.
The Death and Gentrification of Great American Cities
Sharon Zukin's new book takes a different look at the urbanity championed in Jane Jacobs' seminal book "The Death and Life of Great American Cities", arguing that gentrification is tearing up the authenticity of places.
Learning From Bug Cities
As architects and planners seek to create sustainable buildings and cities, some scientists suggest looking at the intricate home-building of insects.
The Potential of Intelligent Transportation
This post from <em>Wired</em>'s <em>Autopia</em> blog looks at the history and potential of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).
The Migratory Patterns of Americans are Changing
The American Enterprise Institute looks closely at how migration patterns have changed state-by-state through the last couple of years of recession.
EPA Plots Plan to Restore Great Lakes
With heavily polluted waters and eroding shorelines, the Great Lakes are undergoing a rapid deterioration in health. The Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled a 5-year plan to restore the lakes.
Metro's Woes
Washington, D.C.'s transit system is in hot water, facing several safety investigations, a decline in ridership, and historic budget deficits.
With Financing Frozen, Construction Workers Feeling the Pinch
Construction unions are reporting that 30% of their members are still unemployed or between jobs. Public projects are raising hopes, but as one carpenter's union spokesperson puts it, "The private sector is dead."
The Short-Term Problem of the Stimulus Package
The short-term focus of the first year's worth of stimulus package spending could be creating long-term problem's for America's already troubled infrastructure, according to this review from the <em>Chicago Tribune</em>'s Blair Kamin.
Early Days of Johannesburg BRT Highlight Persistent Racial Tensions
The major cities in South Africa are busy building new bus rapid transit systems to improve the way their residents get around. But in Johannesburg, the new system is having a rocky start.
Sustainability Through Schools
Efforts to desegregate schools in the 1970s weakened neighborhood ties. Now, a return to school assignments based on where children live could make communities stronger.
Gunfire Detection System Aids Plane Crash Investigation
A gunfire detection tool used by the city of Palo Alto will be used in the investigation into a plane crash that killed three local auto executives.
BLOG POST
Raise My Taxes, Please! Financing High Quality Public Transit Service Saves Me Money Overall
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small">Most North American cities offer only basic public transit service, with limited coverage and frequency, modest speeds, unattractive waiting areas, poor land use integration, and few amenities. Such service is used primarily by people who lack alternatives. In such communities, riders tend to abandon public transit as soon as feasible.</span> </p>
Dropping Bombs and Dropping Parking Lots
This post from <em>The Overhead Wire</em> looks at the impact of parking lot sprawl in American downtowns -- and finds a striking resemblance between those downtowns and bomb-ravaged cities from World War Two.
Chapter 9 Cities on the Rise
The economic recession is pushing many municipalities towards declaring bankruptcy.
Metro Areas Organizing Themselves Towards Regional Goals
Metropolitan officials in the Sun Corridor of Arizona are increasingly working together to form a self-organized super-region, according to this analysis.
Sustainable Urban Farming Through Aquaponics
Aquaponics offer urbanites a new way to farm sustainably in space- and resource-poor areas.
New Zoning for Design Stirs Controversy
In Anchorage, Alaska, planners are rolling out a substantial new version of their zoning code, which includes some design requirements like no blank walls. Business owners are up in arms over the proposed changes.
Guide To Charging For Parking
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute has released this report to guide municipalities to transition from 'free' parking (though author Todd Litman is quick to point out that it is never free) to charging for parking directly.
City of Fort Worth
planning NEXT
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
